April 2009 Archives

Just a couple of years ago, Golf Digest rated the region that includes Washington County as the second best place to live if you are a golfer. This rating took into consideration the number of courses, the availability of tee times, the affordability of greens fees, and of course the caliber of the courses themselves.

For example, the Kingswood Golf Course, in Hudson Falls, NY, is a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course nestled between the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont's Green Mountains. Kingswood is a superbly conditioned links style course that features bent-grass fairways, rolling hills and grassy knolls. This course itself was rated 4-stars by Golf Digest.

The Pole Valley Players Club, in Hartford, NY, was designed by golf professional Steve Forbes along with on site advice from world renowned architect Geoff Cornish. The course features 30+ sand traps, natural ravines, rivers and ponds, and large greens that average 5,000 square feet. The greens at the Pole Valley Players Club are among the best in the area and the views are spectacular!

Cradled in the rolling hills of New York's Southern Washington County, the Cambridge Valley is home to scenic farmland views, historic buildings and a friendly, diverse population of artists, craftsman, small business owners and farmers. We pride ourselves on the unspoiled countryside that surrounds our central village and our enviable, safe and quiet way of life.

But starting Friday, June 5th through Sunday, June 7th, the skies above the Cambridge Valley are filled with colorful hot air balloons. This year's balloonists will attempt three launches delighting those in attendance at the Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival with their grace and elegance as they float above the crowds. Between the launches attendees will enjoy an abundance of activities presented by local organizations, churches and clubs. An estimated 10,000 people attended the festival in 2008 and had a great taste of life in this beautiful corner of the world.

The weekend begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies followed by the first launch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Cambridge Central School located off Route 22 in Cambridge. Launch site activities include the Youth Commissions Balloon Bash with rides, games, food and beverage hosted by various local groups. The Cambridge Hotel is hosting a Pilots Block Party in Railroad Park beginning at 6:00 p.m. Present Laughter and opening reception of Art to Music at Hubbard Hall.

On Saturday, you should wake early as the launches are at about 530 a.m. But early morning viewings of the launch are well worth the effort to listen and watch the balloons drift majestically over head.

In addition to the Balloon launches Farm Team Cycling and the Cambridge Valley Cycling Club present the BALLOON FESTIVAL CLASSIC & Battenkill Valley Junior Grand Prix/NYS Junior Road, TT, and Crit Championships. The cycling race is entering its 6th year and this year includes the Junior Grand Prix/NYS Junior Road, TT=Time Trial and Crit Championships - a big deal for our Farm Team.

The road race is 14-84 miles depending on your category and age. Takes off from the Cambridge Hotel beginning with the Juniors at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Rise early, watch the Balloons launch, stroll into town grab a bite to eat, watch the cyclists take off and then enjoy all that Cambridge Main Street has to offer.